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Every family should have at least a 3-month supply of food stored in the event of an emergency, financial hardship or natural disaster. Just like a squirrel that stores nuts for the winter or a dog that buries a bone for a rainy day, we too need to be prepared during hard times.

It is recommended that 25lbs of grains and 5lbs of dry beans be stored per person per month.*  That means that an average family of 4 should have at least 300lbs of grains and 60lbs of dry beans stored in case of a disaster or famine. Not to mention water and all the other foods we should store for optimal nutrition and taste.

Making room for food storage can be a daunting task if you lack space in your home. It becomes even harder if your home has bad organizational systems and is filled with clutter.

Start your food storage project by clearing your entire home of all unnecessary clutter and reorganizing each space for maximum efficiency. Get rid of all your expired and spoiled foods to see how much actual food you really have to eat. Next, very carefully analyze your home and come up with ways to add additional space for food storage. Remember, when it comes to food storage, you must think:

• COOL (75º F or cooler)
• DRY
• DARK
• NO PESTS

Creative ways to store long-term food in a small home:

• Make a coffee table with your food storage and place a decorative cloth on top.
• Build a small platform or drawers and place your food storage underneath your bed.
• Stack your food storage in a corner and use a stylish partition or shade in front of it.
• Buy a free standing food pantry and place it in a room or hallway.
• Use your linen closet for storage and place your towels and sheets somewhere else.
• Install additional cabinets and shelves to utilize empty wall space.

Bad places for food storage:

• Near a furnace, oven or stove.
• Directly on the floor (bad air circulation)
• Attic/ bathroom (too much heat & moisture)
• Brightly lit room

Product recommendations:

• PETE plastic bottles and storage containers
• Oxygen absorber packets
• Food Rotation System
• Steel Shelving Units

As you follow these recommendations, you will find room to store food in your home in the event of an emergency. If you struggle with developing organizational systems throughout your home, contact a local professional organizer for help.

*Reference: Provident Living http://providentliving.org/content/display/0,11666,7531-1-4062-1,00.html